AXED: Curbishley was shown the door at Fulham along with Rene Meulensteen and Ray Wilkins [GETTY]

But he insists the tide was already turning under Rene Meulensteen - who was ruthlessly replaced by the German earlier this month.

Curbishley was axed as technical director, along with Meulensteen and assistant coach Ray Wilkins, when Magath arrived at Craven Cottage.

“I understood it, I respected it, but I was a little bit disappointed because - when I went into Fulham - the role I had was something the club needed”

Alan Curbishley

But Curbishley said: “Rene will be disappointed because the two games previously against Manchester United - where we drew - and against Liverpool, when we led twice, we felt the tide was turning a little bit.

“The owner decided after the Liverpool game he was going to make a change.

“There was a change of manager who decided he wanted to bring his own staff in, and that is always a consequence of managerial changes.

“I understood it, I respected it, but I was a little bit disappointed because - when I went into Fulham - the role I had was something the club needed.

NEW MAN: Magath oversaw a draw with West Brom in his first game in charge at the weekend [EPA]

“Rene had never been a manager before and I was there to advise and offer my opinion on things, as was Ray Wilkins.

“There are some inexperienced managers in the Premier League such as Tim Sherwood at Tottenham and Garry Monk at Swansea, so there is a role for ex-managers to be mentors. But unfortunately it only lasted seven weeks.”